Crimestoppers warns public against scammers impersonating the charity

Paul Fisher

Crimestoppers has been alerted to a small number of calls where scammers have been impersonating their call handlers and asking for people’s personal information, including their bank details.

The charity has been warned about a group of scammers who have ‘hijacked’ the 0800 555 111 number. The scammers are calling people, saying they are “Crimestoppers at the Home Office” and directing them to the website to clarify the number. They are then asking for personal details.

Crimestoppers has never, and will never, make cold calls to members of the public asking for any personal details, so if anyone does receive a call from someone asking for personal information and claiming to be from Crimestoppers, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Roger Critchell, Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, said: “We are currently talking to our phone service provider to attempt to resolve the situation over our number being hijacked and hope this can be rectified as quickly as possible.

“I would emphasise that it is business as normal for the charity and people can still contact us on 0800 555 111 to pass on anonymous information about crime, but we wanted to make sure people were aware that we will never, ever contact them asking for personal details, so please do not hand any over if you are contacted by someone claiming to be Crimestoppers.”